Which place is cheaper, Salento or Leon?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Leon or Salento?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Leon and Salento can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
Where Should I go: Leon or Salento?
Leon
Leon is one of the oldest city's in Nicaragua and you can see hints of its colonial past in the architecture around town. Tourism is not a major part of the economy in Leon, but the city is gaining popularity with budget travelers and backpackers and more recently tour groups are including Leon in their itinerary.
With a population of just over 200,000, Leon is the second largest city in Nicaragua, after Managua. During the university season the population grows dramatically as there is a heavy presence of students in Leon. It is a popular university town, and this young population gives the city plenty of energy and entertainment.
Salento
Founded in 1850, Salento is one of the oldest towns in Quindio. This colonial Colombian town has retained much of its old world charm, with its colorful buildings, large square and, of course, the obligatory church. Because the main route between Cali and Bogota which used to pass through Salento was diverted, the town didn't develop as quickly as others in the Quindio region. This gave Salento the opportunity to evolve into a thriving community of craftsmen and artisans as well as remaining one of the region's most prolific coffee producers. Salento is located 24 km northeast of the departmental capital Armenia. However, unlike its colorful neighbor, Armenia itself has very little to offer tourists. Salento attracts those wishing to learn about the coffee regions and for those who simply admire breathtaking scenery, and especially the stunning Cocora Valley.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours in Nicaragua, The Best Adventure Tours to Nicaragua, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Colombia, and The Best Adventure Tours to Colombia.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayLeon $59Salento $33
The average daily cost (per person) in Leon is $59, while the average daily cost in Salento is $33. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Leon and Salento in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personLeon $16Salento $11
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomLeon $32Salento $22
Compare Hotels in Leon and Salento
Looking for a hotel in Leon or Salento? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.
Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.
Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Salento Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Leon $1.51Salento $14
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Salento
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Salento:
- Pereira Airport Private Transfer Service: $55
Is it cheaper to fly into Leon or Salento?
Prices for flights to both Salento and Leon change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.
Food
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Food Meals for one dayLeon $12Salento $9.56
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Leon
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Leon.
- Tlakualli Food Tour: $19
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Salento
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Salento.
- Cooking Stories - Cocinando Historias: $46
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Leon $5.81Salento $12
Tours and Activities in Leon
Here are a few actual costs in Leon for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Half Day Private Tour of Cerro Negro's Volcano Boarding: $35
- Leon City Walking Private Tour : $48
- Rum Tour & Chorotega Museum Experience: $62
- Hike El Hoyo Volcano "Private Tour" : $67
- Old Leon and Asososca Lagoon Private Tour: $82
- Volcano Boarding Private Tour : $84
- Kayak Private tour at Juan Venado Island: $92
- Telica Sunset Tour : $93
- Horseback Riding Private Tour : $103
- Half-Day Leon City Tour: $135
- Somoto Canyon "Private Tour from Leon" : $154
- 6 Hours Sunset Private Guided Tour of Telica Volcano in León: $163
Tours and Activities in Salento
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Salento are as follows:
- City tour + Nature: $25
- Coffee tour in the heart of the coffee region: $28
- Santa Rita Waterfall and Salento Hike Tour: $49
- Filandia and Salento Coffee Towns Tour: $62
- Private Colombian Coffee Farm Tour with Tastings in Armenia: $78
- Cocora Valley and Salento Hike Tour: $79
- Coffee Tour at Finca El Ocaso: $84
- Coffee Farm and Salento Walking Tour with Lunch: $87
- Coffe Experience: Daily departure from Salento: $89
- Pereira: Cocora Valley and Salento Guided Hiking Tour: $89
- Private birding tour for beginners and intermediate: $90
- Coffee Tour and Salento Walking Tour with lunch: $94
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayLeon $3.53Salento $12
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Leon and Salento, we can see that Leon is more expensive. And not only is Salento much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Leon is in Central America and Salento is in South America, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Salento would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Salento and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Leon would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Leon than you might in Salento.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Leon Expensive? and Is Salento Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Leon or Salento?
Leon has a larger population, and is about 30 times larger than the population of Salento. When comparing the sizes of Leon and Salento, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.